Study on the distribution of CD8+ memory T cell subsets and IFN-γ level during the spontaneous clearance of hepatitis B virus in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

摘要

OBJECTIVE: To study the alteration of CD8+ memory T cell subsets under different immune statuses during the spontaneous clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection including 10 patients with Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) spontaneous seroconversion, 25 patients with Hepatitis B virus e Antigen (HBeAg) spontaneous seroconversion, 25 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and 25 chronic HBV carriers. The CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood were isolated, and flow cytometry was used to determine the percent change of CD8+ T memory cell subsets. ELISA was used to measure the levels of Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion from CD8+ T cells. RESULTS: (1) The percentage of CD8+ TN cells in peripheral blood was lower in the HBsAg seroconversion group than in the HBeAg seroconversion group (p0.05); (4) IFN-γ production from CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood was higher in the HBsAg seroconversion group than the HBeAg seroconversion group (p<0.05), CHB group, and chronic HBV carrier group (p<0.05, 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The consistent increase of CD8+ TEM-2 cell subsets may be an important cause of spontaneous clearance of HBV. The disorder of CD8+ memory T cell differentiation may be an important mechanism of chronic HBV infection.